Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns life ban for Sammut

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned a UEFA life ban against Maltese footballer Kevin Sammut, condemning UEFA to pay all case-related expenses.

Sammut was instead banned for 10 years, starting from August 2012, from playing in competitive football.

Valletta FC midfielder Kevin Sammut ‘il-Viper’ was one of the three players being charged by UEFA on match-fixing during an international qualifier between Malta and Norway in 2008. Two other players, Kenneth Scicluna of Valletta FC and Stephen Wellman of Qormi FC, were acquitted of charges due to lack of evidence. Sammut appealed the decision.

The CAS yesterday confirmed Sammut’s guilt but ruled that the life ban handed to him was disproportionate to the role the Maltese footballer had in the case.

Upholding the arguments of defence lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha, the CAS turned the lifetime ban into a 10-year ban starting August 2012, when the first judgement was passed. The Control and Disciplinary Body also ruled that all case related expenses are to be borne by UEFA.

Speaking to MaltaToday, Sammut’s lawyers commented their client was a pawn in a much larger game. “Kevin Sammut reiterates his innocence and has done all that was possible, given the limitations he faced to clear his name. Finding of guilt was not a unanimous decision of the board and therefore it is understood that some members did not agree with that ruling. However, like in any Court of Appeal the decision is that of the majority of the members,” Dr Lucio Sciriha said.

In June 2012, the president of the Malta Football Association (MFA), Norman Darmanin Demajo had refused to reveal the names of the Malta national players charged by UEFA’s disciplinary inspectors in connection with match-fixing allegations surrounding the Euro 2008 qualifier between Norway and Malta. With the case shrouded in silence, Darmanin Demajo had insisted the MFA’s sole role was to assist in the investigations being carried out by the Police and UEFA.

The MFA carried out a three-month inquiry, during which more than 30 persons were interviewed. The investigation was detailed in a 500-page dossier that has been passed on to UEFA.

“However, people who could have shed a light on the true facts of the case, chose for reasons known to them, not to testify even when asked to do so. The star witness, Croat national Marijo Cvrtak, is a convicted member of a notorious Croatian betting syndicate. It was he who stated that the Euro 2008 qualifier between Malta and Norway was a rigged match. The match had ended with Malta being beaten by Norway 4-0 in Oslo,” Sciriha said.

Whilst reiterating Sammut’s innocence the defence lawyers expressed their satisfactions that the CAS decision was now unanimous. “This means that members of the Tribunal actually believed Sammut’s arguments. All members believed that Sammut was not the main actor in the matter but that he was just a pawn in a much larger and dirtier game. Taking into consideration Sammut’s financial limitations the CAS ordered that the case expenses are charged to UEFA rather than to the Maltese footballer,” Sciriha said.

Two other players, also summoned for the 2012 hearings at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, were Kenneth Scicluna and Stephen Wellman. The two were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Following the CAS decision, Sammut now has no other remedies before the Sports Tribunals.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha represented the Maltese footballer throughout the case.